aecher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. ARCHER.

PROGESSOF MANUFACTURING ILLUMINATING GAS. No. 341,622.

Patented Ma N PETERS. Pmmmpc m hur, Wnhinginn, D. (:4

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. B. ARCHER.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING ILLUMINATING GAS. No. 341,622. Patented May 11, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFIcE.

JOHN B. ARCHER, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING ILLUMINATING-GAS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,622. dated May 11, 1886.

Application filed October 9, 1885.

Serial No. 179,378. (No model.)

' an illuminating-gas in which the decomposition of water plays a prominent part, as distinguished from gas produced solely by the decomposition of bituminous coal, oil, or other similar substances, which may be defined to be gaseous products resulting from the interaction of steam and carbon at a high temperatnre; or, in other words, the carbon seizes upon the oxygen of the steam and unites with it, at the same time liberating the hydrogen.

According to my saidinvention, the products of the decomposition of liquid hydrocarbons pass to a spiral tubular retort incased in metal, where, together with water-gas resulting from the interaction of steam and carbon, it is subjected to a high temperature and gasified.

My invention also relates to gas producers and apparatus made use of for generating gas for heating and illuminating purposes from hydrocarbons by the action thereon of heat and steam; and the nature thereof consists, principally, in the means used for heating the vapor and transforming it into a fixed gas, which may be used for illuminating or heating.

It also consists in certain novel features in the construction of the apparatus, which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by similar letters, Figure l is a vertical central section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line :0 a", Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates in detail the ends of the pipe in which the vapor from the generator is heated and transformed into a permanent gas. Fig. 4 is a detail view, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view,

of the apparatus.

The chamber in which the volatilization of the liquid hydrocarbons takes place consists of an outer casing. O, in which is placed a spherical shell, 1?; located in such a manner as to form a steam or vapor space between the latter and the former.

The steam enters the apparatus by the pipe A, at a temperature of about 375, and thence passes spirally upward through the coiled su-- perheating-pipe Y to the exterior pipe, Y, which it enters after being superheated at a temperature of about 1,000". At the point Y an injector is placed within the pipe for the purpose of forming a vacuum below the entrance of the oil-pipe R, and thus forcing the oil downward and thoroughly intermiXing it with the steam. The mixed oil and steam enters by the pipe R the spherical shell P, which is provided with a number of partition plates, I), each of which has the form of a spherical segment. A series of holes are formed near the edges of these circular segments, as is best shown in Fig. 4, through which the mixed steam and hydrocarbon vapors flow downward. A number of cross-partitions, d, provided with apertures may be arranged between the circular partitions d, in order to effect a more complete intermixture between the steam and hydrocarbon vapor.

The pipe 1% enters the apparatus through a hole cut in the exterior cap, K, and the casing O is extended downward through the central vertical passage, D, in such. a manner as to form an annular flue for the escape of the products of combustion around its exterior surfaces and between itself and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder V.

Within the casing O is arranged the spherical shell P, having a tube, T, which extends down ward within the depending part S in such a way as to form about itself an upward passage for the hydrocarbon vapor and steam. This tube may pass first downward, then upward, then downward again to a point near the bottom of the depending part S, or it may be coiled within the part S, so that the mixed vapors will be made to travel overa circuitous course and become intensely heated.

The upper part ofthe casing O is fitted to a cap-piece, K, which is provided with holes for the reception of the steam and oil induction pipes, and the vapor-eduction pipe, and also for a pipe leading to the pyrometer O, by which construction the casing is rendered imperforate at all points where it is subjected to the direct action of the products of combustion, and all holes drilled for the reception of pipes are in the cap-piece, which is in contact with the outer air. An annular projection is formed upon the upper edge ofthe casing O, by means of which the latter is supported by the crown of the apparatus in such amanner that it can be removed -with facility for repairs or other purposes.

The gas-eduction pipe L is led downward, coiled spirally, and incas'ed' by an iron or steel annular casing cast or formed about it, and within this vapor-eduction pipe is coiled the pipe H, through which the vapor generated in the chamber P passes in such a manner as to form an annular spiral passage between the two pipes.

The Vapor generated as hereinbefore described by the action of the steam upon the oil in the receiver P passes downward through the coiled pipe H, thence upward about the pipe H and receiver, thence through the inner pipe, H, to a point near the bottom of the closed end of the outer pipe, L, as shown best in Fig. 3, and thence upward through the annular spiral space between theinner tube, H, and outer tube, I, to the cylindrical retort M, the inner peripheral surfaces of which are exposed to the direct heat of the escaping products of combustion. It will thus be noted that the vapor, after leaving the vaporizingchamber, is subjected tointensely-heated surfaces equal in area to the aggregate of the outer peripheral surfaces of the inner pipe and the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe, and that it is made to travel over a distance about equal to the sum of the lengths of the two pipes. This travel of the mingled vapors in a thin stream over highly-heated surfaces has the effect of producing therefrom a permanent gas, which may be used for illuminating and other purposes.

The gas generated passes by the pipe U and branch pipe N to the retort M, and from thence by the pipe F to the point whereit is required. A branch pipe, J, leads from the pipe F to the oil-induction pipe B, so that in some instances the inflowing oil may be heated by the addition of a small portion of intenselyheated gas.

The furnace or burner B is supplied with 7 gas by the branch pipe L, and the flame and products of combustion therefrom first pass upward through the central flue, D,and thence downward through the dividing-flue Z to the chimney Z. A branch pipe, R leads from the main oil-inductionpipe R to the gas-eduction pipe, and both of these pipes are provided with stop cocks or valves, by means of which the oil flowing through them may be accurately regulated.

The apparatus above described is intended to be used in carrying out a process for the manufacture of a fixed illuminating-gas, the steps of which are as follows: First, the steam is heated to a temperature of about 1,000 Fahrenheit; second, about one-half to twothirds of the oil to be transformed into gas is mixed and vaporized with the superheated steam; third, the vapor and steam are thoroughly intermixed and raised to a temperature of about 1,300 Fahrenheit; fourth, the remaining one-half to one-third of theoil is intermixed with the vapor; and, fifth, the vapor thus enriched is raised to a temperature of nearly 2,400 Fahrenheit in a pipe or pipes, the exterior surfaces of which are protected from the direct action of the flame.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent The process of manufacturing gas which consists in, first, superheatiug the steam; second, intermixing with the superheated steam about one-half of the oil to be vaporized; third, intermixing the vaporized oil and steam in a mixing-chamber; fourth, adding the remaining portion of the oil required to the mixture, and, fifth, heating the mixture to form a fixed gas by surfaces which are not in direct contact with the flame, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. ARCHER.

Witnesses: 7

O. S. WVHITMAN, O. FRED. KELLER. 

